I have a couple of the West Elm Hex side tables, and they are really too low for us to get much use out of them. I just checked the website and the Hex are 18 inches. I'm thinking the one you like, while very nice, is really too low to be functional.

depends on how you want to use it and want it to look, but I agree, it's a little low. But that's sort of the mid-century/70s style now.

I saw this online then visited in store, but it is only 12 inches from the ground, which seems really low.

http://www.westelm.com/products/carved-wood-coffee-table-g414/?pkey=csoft-to-the-touch-living-room&